Campaigners call for new Aids strategy

CAMPAIGNERS were set to demonstrate outside the Scottish Parliament today to urge the UK Government to come up with a meaningful HIV/Aids strategy.

Westminister is set to release a three-year strategy on May 19 on tackling the global epidemic, in line with the "Treatment for All" promise made at the G8 summit at Gleneagles in 2005.

However, reports have suggested the strategy does not contain a spending target, while UN figures estimate the UK needs to commit at least £2.5 billion over three years.

With 2010 only two years away, an estimated 70 per cent of the 33 million people with HIV/Aids cannot yet access the drugs they need to stay alive.

Students, politicians and campaigners were set to highlight the issue at Holyrood today.

"This is the Government's opportunity to show us they are serious about delivering on universal access," said Katy Athersuch, national co-ordinator for the StopAIDS Campaign.